This week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and
Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced the Legal Workforce Act, which
would greatly expand the use of the E-Verify employment eligibility
verification system. This bipartisan bill’s goal, according to its
sponsors, is to discourage illegal immigration by making sure that jobs
are only made available to people authorized to work in the United
States, and is one of many bills the House Judiciary Committee is
introducing to help address immigration concerns.
If passed, the bill would repeal the paper-based I-9 system and replace
it with the electronic E-Verify system over a gradual period of time.
Within six months of enactment, businesses with 10,000 and more
employees would be required to use E-Verify. Within 12 months of
enactment, businesses with 500-9,999 employees would be required to use
E-Verify. Within 18 months of enactment, businesses with 20-499
employees would be required to use E=Verify. Within 24 months of
enactment, businesses with 1-19 employees would be required to use
E-Verify.
